Snow blower support for sanding vehicle

ABSTRACT

A support for holding an associated snow blower on an associated vehicle equipped with a receiver of the type customarily used for mounting towing apparatus which includes an elongated stem dimensioned and configured for sliding engagement with the receiver; an elongated crossbar fixed to the stem in substantially perpendicular relationship; and at least a first column having a first end fixed to the crossbar and a second end having an arm for supporting an associated snow blower. In some forms of the invention the support includes a second column having a first end fixed to the crossbar and a second end having an arm for supporting an associated snow blower. The first and second columns are disposed respectively at substantially the axial extremities of the crossbar.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention has particular application to methods and apparatus forsnow removal and remediation of snow covered streets, driveways,sidewalks and the like. Substantial snowfall accumulations accentuatethe need for equipment to deal with those accumulations and in aneconomic, flexible and timely manner. Pickup trucks and flatbed trucksequipped with sanding and/or salt spreading apparatus and provided witha plow are commonly used for clearing streets and driveways.

Contractors providing snow plowing services routinely clear drivewaysand sidewalks with snow blowers and shovels. Maximum utilization of thetruck requires the use of the largest possible spreading apparatus. Suchlarge apparatus does not leave room for carrying additional apparatus.One such apparatus is the POLY-CASTER™ Hopper Spreader that has theability to precisely match material delivery and spread pattern tosurface conditions. The dual-motor FISHER® POLY-CASTER™ spreader hopperhas independent control of the conveyor and the spinner in anelectric-drive system with a rust-proof double-wall poly hopper. Themanufacturer is Fisher Engineering of Rockland, Me.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Historically, snow removal services have often used sets of trucks toaccomplish the required snow removal work. A first truck equipped with aplow and spreader often has no room left to carry snow blowers. Thus, asecond truck is required to carry snow blowers. Attempts to strap snowblowers on the first truck may damage that truck, may obstruct tail,stop and/or turn indicator lights on the truck, may obstruct the licenseplate and/or may result in the loaded snow blower extending beyond thebody of the truck in a manner that is illegal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has the objectives of providing an apparatus thatwill not damage that truck, will not obstruct tail, stop and/or turnindicator lights on the truck, will not obstruct the license plate andwill not result in any loaded snow blower extending beyond the body ofthe truck in a manner that is illegal.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a supportfor snow blowers that will ensure the snow blowers are securely mountedand will not limit the capacity of the truck carrying sand/salt or thesize of the sand/salt spreading apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support to workon a flatbed truck as well as a pickup truck.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a supportthat will enable mounting that does not interfere with the rotatingdistributor mechanism of the spreading apparatus.

Another object the present invention is to provide a support that willnot interfere with the loading of the salt/sand into the spreaderapparatus.

Yet another object the present invention is to provide apparatus that isinexpensive and easy to manufacture.

It has now been found that these and other objects of the presentinvention may be attained in a support for holding an associated snowblower on an associated vehicle equipped with a receiver of the typecustomarily used for mounting towing apparatus which includes anelongated stem dimensioned and configured for sliding engagement withthe receiver; an elongated crossbar fixed to the stem in substantiallyperpendicular relationship; and at least a first column having a firstend fixed to the crossbar and a second end having an arm for supportingan associated snow blower.

In some forms of the invention the support includes a second columnhaving a first end fixed to the crossbar and a second end having an armfor supporting an associated snow blower. The first and second columnsare disposed respectively at substantially the axial extremities of thecrossbar. The arm for supporting an associated snow blower may beL-shaped and many have upstanding outboard extremities to retain thehandle of an associated snow blower.

In some embodiments both the arm for supporting an associated snowblower on the first column and the arm for supporting an associated snowblower on the second column are L-shaped and each has an upstandingoutboard extremity to retain the handle of an associated snow blower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a pickup truck carrying a spreader and asupport in accordance with one form of the present invention and.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the support illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the support illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the support illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the support illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A Hitch Receiver is a platform that mounts to the chassis of a vehicleand is the load bearing portion of the tow hitch for pulling a trailer.Published US patent application 2006/0225264 A1 describes one form of areceiver. The present invention is particularly adapted for engagementwith a trailer hitch receiver tube carried on the truck on whichspreader and plow apparatus is mounted. Commonly, the receiver tube hasa 2 inch square receiver that is welded or bolted to the frame of thetruck. The receiver is often between 6-24 inches long and often hascapacities of 500 pounds tongue weight and 5000 pounds gross towingweight.

The present invention includes a support 6 that is dimensioned andconfigured for engagement with the receiver commonly mounted to theframe of the vehicle used both to plow snow and spread sand and/or salt.More specifically, the support 6 has a stem 10 dimensioned andconfigured for sliding engagement within the receiver. The stem 12 maybe provided with a hole dimensioned and configured for receiving a pin(not shown) to lock the receiver and stem 12 together.

The stem 10 is welded to a crossbar 12 that extends laterally withrespect to the truck 2. The weld is reinforced by gussets 14. A crossbar12 is dimensioned to extend, in the preferred embodiment, outboard ofthe sides of the salt/sand distribution apparatus as best seen in FIG.1.

In the preferred embodiment the outboard extremities of the crossbar 12carry respective vertical columns 16. The columns 16 are welded to thecrossbar 12 with oblique braces 18 stabilizing the geometricrelationship.

Disposed at the top of each of the columns 16 are respective L-shapedbrackets at each comprise first and second coplanar arms disposed at anincluded angle of 90° with upstanding stops at the outboard extremitiesare dimensioned and configured to limit horizontal movement of thehandles of respective snow blowers 8. It will be that bungee cords (notshown) will typically encircle the handles of the respective snowblowers 8 and the columns 16 to prevent inadvertent disengagement.

While the present invention has been described with respect toutilization on a pickup truck or flatbed truck, those skilled in the artwill recognize that some embodiments may be used on so-called SUVsport-utility vehicles as well as other types of vehicles. It will beunderstood that while the preferred embodiment of the present inventionutilizes two vertical columns 16 and each column 16 supports arespective snow blower 8, that other embodiments may utilize a singlecolumn for a single snow blower 8. Similarly, the precise supportutilized at the upper axial extremity of the columns may differ invarious embodiments. For example, a single arc shaped membersubstantially within a horizontal plane may be supported by the columns16 to permit mounting of one or more snow blowers 8 on the arc shapedmember.

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specificationare indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art towhich this invention pertains. All publications and patent applicationsare herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if eachindividual publication or patent application was specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the description above contains many specifics, these should notbe construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merelyproviding illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodimentsof this invention. Thus, the scope of this invention should bedetermined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the presentinvention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obviousto those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present inventionis accordingly to be limited by the appended claims, in which referenceto an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one”unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural,chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of theabove-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinaryskill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and areintended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is notnecessary for a device or method to address each and every problemsought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassedby the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or methodstep in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the publicregardless of whether the element, component, or method step isexplicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to beconstrued under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unlessthe element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

1. A support for holding an associated snow blower on an associatedvehicle equipped with a receiver of the type customarily used formounting towing apparatus which comprises: an elongated stem dimensionedand configured for sliding engagement with the receiver; an elongatedcrossbar fixed to said stem in substantially perpendicular relationship;and at least a first column having a first end fixed to said crossbarand a second end having an arm for supporting an associated snow blower.2. A support as described in claim 1 further including a second columnhaving a first end fixed to said crossbar and a second end having an armfor supporting an associated snow blower.
 3. A support as described inclaim 2 wherein said first and second columns are disposed respectivelyat substantially the axial extremities of said crossbar.
 4. A support asdescribed in claim 1 wherein said arm for supporting an associated snowblower is L-shaped and has upstanding outboard extremities to retain thehandle of an associated snow blower.
 5. A support as described in claim2 wherein both said arm for supporting an associated snow blower on saidfirst column and said arm for supporting an associated snow blower onsaid second column are L-shaped and each has an upstanding outboardextremity to retain the handle of an associated snow blower.